Parking Charge Notice when the meters were broke

Mr_Benn

A lovely start to Xmas ... I have just received a Parking Charge Notice from Euro Car Parks, using cameras taking photos in and out of the car park.
I am the owner of the vehicle but my wife was legally driving the car at the time. When she went to buy a ticket, one of the stations was out of order (she cant remember how it said that, and she never thought to take any photos) The other machine wasnt accepting any coins. Other people were also failing to get the machine to accept coins. She then continued to park there for 46 minutes (doh).

So, we are going to appeal , but I want to do it right. Can somebody please advise us of the best way to approach this. The chances are others maybe been caught that time so they would see a patter of people appealing , but would ECP even look at that as evidence in ours and others cases?

So , firstly, should we tell them who the driver was, or just reject it saying the ticket was unfair and just describe the issue at the time. Im not sure the significance of naming who was the driver straight away.
As we have no firm evidence, are we treading on stoney ground, or can ECP or Popla see that neither machine was taking money at the time ?

Thanks in advance for any advice

pappa_golf

don,t name the driver , appeal to them stating the machines were not working , they will deny it , go to POPLA 50-50% chance , go to court and demand that printouts are shown of all transactions within that time period

and win when they refuse or they go in your favour

Coupon-mad

firstly, should we tell them who the driver was

No.

Please read 'NEWBIES PLEASE READ THESE FAQS FIRST'. Just appeal as per the advice.

beamerguy

Was your wife shopping at the time, the car park for the shop ?

If so you need to firstly chat to the manager and if that fails, the CEO.
Get this stupidity cancelled and get it in writing.
It would be wise to tell the store that many other customers were seen running around like headless chickens trying to pay.
To gain credibility suggest they get Euro to cancel all tickets during the times the machines were not working.

That is your first action, more often or not they will cancel

PS: NOBODY KNOWS WHO WAS DRIVING .... OK

Mr_Benn

Thanks for the answers so far guys. I will have another read thru the Newbies links.
By the way the car park is not linked to any specific store. Im amazed that they dont send these letters recorded delivery. Im not amazed that they leave it 3 weeks after the event to contact you - giving you more chance of losing any relevant tickets/ receipts / memory of the event.

pappa_golf

a ticket by a ANPR method has to be RECEIVED within 14 days , not posted out 3 weeks later

date of offence
date on the letter you got
date the letter was RECEIVED

Mr_Benn

Hi Pappa


Sorry, my mistake it isnt 3 weeks (unfortunately) it was actually 11 days. Which confirms my conspiracy theory that they wait till the last minute to send out the notice. I guess I could say I didnt receive it until today (especially with xmas post) , but I dont want to go there..


Issued : 8 December
Posted : 16 December
Received : 19 December

Mr_Benn

Good evening all. I have now read thru the informative Newbies section and I have drafted a letter based on the template given for ECP.
From what I have seen the signange is okay , however, I cant see anywhere where it says you mustnt park if the meters dont work. My wife had a phone , but never thought to use it to pay or take a photo of the broken machine (Im sure we tell them later if asked that she had no phone ) . She also never thought to try and pay when she came back to the car, so do we play safe and just say they were down at point of entry. Im therefore guessing its going to be based on them having logs of wether their machines were down around that time ?

Here is my first draft, maybe you can be kind enough to offer some advice. id like to get this sent to them asap , as Im getting a bit stressed by it (but hey thats Anxiety for you )

I wont paste the whole letter, just the section I have added ..

"The reason for the refusal to pay the charge is that neither of the 2 payment stations within the car park were working at the time the vehicle entered the car park. One of the 2 machines had an ‘out of order’ message on it . The second machine was not taking any denomination of coins at all. Other car owners were also failing to get either machine to work at the time.
If you wish to proceed with the charge can you provide evidence of the machines log files showing that tickets were being issued at the time of entry to the car park."

I have asked them to state who the landlords are. The car park seems to back onto both Iceland and a Tyre fitters place.

pappa_golf

does the meter take debit cards or cash only ?

Mr_Benn

Unfortunately it looks like debit cards as well. ( I smacked my head when I saw that )
Wouldve just been a pound as well . She obviously just didnt take the time to think and try .

Coupon-mad

Have you complained to the landowner/retailer that ECP are trying to charge £100 for a day when their machines were both broken?